14 COMPAEATIYE ZO-OLOGY. [June, 



especially important as being from a locality from wluch we 

 had few specimens. 



In addition to the labor of cataloguing and incorporating 

 with the general collection, the 5,000 specimens received dur- 

 ing last year and the early part of the present, the labelling 

 of the collection of skins has been commenced, and some 

 10,000 specimens have already been supplied with labels, 

 indicating their localities and the sources whence they were 

 received, and generally also their systematic names. In this 

 work I have been greatly aided by Masters Wing and Howe, 

 who have both worked with great care and assiduity. 



The alcoholic collection has been carefully watched, and 

 the loss of specimens thus far prevented. The large earthen 

 crocks, with screw-tops, introduced to some extent in this 

 department as storage jars, as mentioned in previous reports, 

 have proved, from their porosity, even more untrustworthy 

 then the kegs they were intended to replace. Accordingly, 

 as a final resort, copper cans have been adopted for the speci- 

 mens too large to be stored in glass, and the transfer of the 

 specimens to them has already been 'commenced. As we 

 shall soon have enough of the copper cans for the whole col- 

 lection of alcoholic birds, as well as mammals, it is expected 

 that during the coming year all will be permanently arranged 

 in them and thus secured from loss by the leakage or evapora- 

 tion of the alcohol. 



The only invoices sent out in exchange have been a lot of 

 67 specimens to Brown University, and 35 to Mr. W. D. 

 Scott, and a smaller number to a few other parties. The 

 whole collection of Tyrannidoe has been loaned to Dr. Elliott 

 Co^es, U. S. A., for use in his revision of this group, a part 

 of which have already been returned, with his identifications. 

 A few alcoholic specimens have also been loaned to Professor 

 O. C. Marsh, of New Haven. 



The following schedule indicates the sources from which 

 additions have been received during the past year : — 



By Donation, 



Allen, J. A. A skin and part of a skeleton of Podiceps cornu- 

 tus, and several skins of native species. 



